شرر Sharar

Fourteen

Today was the day

The day when Ayat Khan was getting married to Hanan Khan

The day from which in she won't be a single girl, but a married girl

The day when her name will be joined with the guy's name whom she despise

No matter how much she wanted, she couldn't say no

Not after how her father showed his happiness for this marriage,

That's the thing Ayat hate most about Indian parents

How easily they manipulate their kids into whatever they want

As if her father wasn't enough, her chachi emotional blackmailed her last nigh too

"Ajayen!" Ayat was preparing herself for sleep when someone knocked on the door

(Come in!)

"Chachi, aap?" Ayat sat up straight when she saw Khushnuma on doorway

(Chachi, you?)

"So toh nahi rahi thi na?" Getting in, Khushnuma said,

(I hope I didn't disturb your sleep.)

"Nahi,"

(No!)

"Yeh Dekho, main tumhare liye Kya laai Hoon." Khushnuma sat on her bed and showed her what she was holding

(Look what I have got for you.)

"Yeh Meri mummy ka dupatta Hai, Jo unhone apne nikkah mein pehna Tha aur apni beti ke liye sambhal ke rakha Tha, mere nikkah ke baad Maine bhi apni beti ke liye rakh diya Tha," it was red heavy gota dupatta, which Khushnuma spread it open on Ayat's bed

Ayat happily hold the dupatta, examine it. But, Khushnuma's words made her remove her hands from it,

(This belongs to my mother, after her marriage she saved it for her daughter and after my marriage, I saved it for my daughter.)

"Lekin Allah ne mujhe beti se nawaza hi nahi. Ab yeh tumhara."

(But Allah never granted me a daughter. Now this dupatta is yours.)

"Chachi, hum?... Hum kaise?... Yeh... Nahi...."

(Me?... How can I?...no...)

"Kaise Kya? Tum Meri beti hi toh ho." Khushnuma nurrowed her eyes at Ayat and told her

(What how can I? You are my daughter.)

"Main toh hamesha se chahti thi ki tumhari aur Hanan ki Shaadi ho."

(I always wanted you to get married to Hanan.)

Khushnuma put the dupatta on Ayat's head,

"Kitni pyari lag rahi Meri beti." Holding Ayat's chin, Khushnuma said

(My daughter is looking beautiful.)

Ayat took a deep breath as she looked at Khushnuma with her big eyes, expecting Khushnuma to understand her inner thought

For Ayat, if she take the dupatta, it means taking a traditional from Khushnuma, taking the responsibility of marriage

How can she accept the dupatta when she doesn't even accept the marriage?